The Gift of Giving
The feel-good factor of supporting something you believe in
Michael Bostelmann (A 61-66)
I fear that when I turned up to Bradfield I was viewed as a rather dim boy, however Bradfield turned all that around for me. My housemaster, Philip Stibbe, was an excellent mentor, kind and ethical, and the school catered for an all-round skill set, not just prizing the academics, but developing the whole person. The system certainly worked for me and I received a good set of grades and even made Head of House, a title which even Mr Stibbe acknowledged as an unexpected outcome given my ragged start! The Bradfield of my day was a great place, and now I see the Bradfield of today as doing the same thing – but probably even better.
Most people who give to charity will say that it is a rewarding and satisfying experience, especially if there is a close relationship to the charity and the results can be seen at first hand. For this reason, I tend to make gifts to charities I know well and where I am confident the gift will make a difference. Bradfield fits the bill perfectly.
I get a thrill every time I visit Bradfield and talk to pupils; I am sure that in my day I was not as confident and articulate as the modern Bradfieldian, it is a joy to talk to them.
The experience of visiting Bradfield and talking to the pupils has shown me the continued benefits of a Bradfield education and to provide this opportunity to pupils who could never otherwise access this level of all-round education is fantastic. It is fantastic not only for that individual, but it’s also good for the wider pupil body to be truly diverse and have the ability to learn from one another. Diversity adds true value to the College. Making a gift towards a transformative bursary is something very personal and with real emotional resonance.
A lot of people have benefited enormously from a Bradfield education, myself included, and I want to help others to make that same journey.
Running is my sport, but I only began to take it quite seriously during my time at the College. There was a lot of cross country running going on in in those days and I have particularly fond memories of the original ‘cheese’, which involved climbing up through a raging weir, although I am reliably informed the modern incarnation of the Steeplechase features a shorter dip in the Pang. I enjoyed competing against other schools and running clubs, it’s how I came to join Thames Hare and Hounds, because they used to run against Bradfield twice a year. But running needs little financial help. No special equipment, no expensive courts and no flood lit pitches.
Tony Billington (H 59-63) knew full well that my wife is a keen, life-long tennis player and so when he approached me to support the Indoor Tennis Centre (completed back in 2000) and again for the new clay courts (completed in 2017), I had little option than to support this whole heartedly.
Back in 2000 we knew the Indoor Courts could be hugely beneficial to tennis players both in the College and from the wider community. It’s not easy training in the winter in the pouring rain and providing a facility that would enable all year-round play, and eventually become the centre of the community Tennis Club, meant that I was fairly confident it would be a sensible project. And so, it has proved to be. I’m pretty keen that Bradfield should be part of the community and providing benefits outside of the College is quite important. The addition of the clay courts a few years ago has enhanced the profile of the sport and both facilities have played in integral role in the recent successes of tennis at Bradfield.
Being a former accountant, I also enjoy planning for my giving to be as cost effective as possible, thereby enabling me to be more generous.
Gift aid is good and beneficial, and also, it’s worth investigating other opportunities with a tax adviser eg making gifts of shares to charity as they can be exempt CGT and full income tax on the value – two tax reliefs in one gift – what is not to like?
Both tennis projects have provided a real kick in seeing at first hand the superb facilities that resulted from the appeals; indeed, it continues to be satisfying to see them. I also feel incredibly happy to be able to give something back to enable other pupils to have the Bradfield experience.
My education at Bradfield was superb and it set me up for life leading me first into the Accountancy profession for 30 years when I was then ‘stolen’ by a client to manage an international engineering company. Perhaps a demonstration of the flexibility and free-thinking of the Bradfield education.
